Depression Hates A Moving Target author Nita Sweeney has been featured in an article on OutwitTrade, compiled by writer Katie Holmes.
The Benefits of Journaling: Diarists & Therapists Comment
Journaling helps people process emotions, solve problems, and record details they might forget. Some people don’t know what they think or feel until it comes out of their pen. Right now, with so much happening in our world, there’s no better time to record everything! Any form of diary or journal is fabulous, but I’ll put in a plug for writing that journal on paper, with a pen, by hand.
Handwriting helps people process information and feelings more deeply. Writing by hand lowers stress, decreases depression symptoms, and can even improve immune function. The brain is more stimulated when a person is writing by hand, as it uses the regions for movement, calibration, artistic ability, and creativity. Individuals are more likely to recall information when handwritten rather than typed. And writing by hand increases the brain’s ability to process and remember new information.
For people stumped by the blank page, writing prompts or a guided journal can help. I’m a firm believer in setting a timer and putting pen to paper with no editing until the timer goes off. The key is to just get started. You’ll be amazed at what you learn about yourself through the process.
–Nita Sweeney, nitasweeney.com
depression hates a moving target
How Running With My Dog Brought Me Back From the Brink (Running Depression and Anxiety Therapy, Bipolar)
It’s never too late to chase your dreams. Before she discovered running, Nita Sweeney was 49-years-old, chronically depressed, occasionally manic, and unable to jog for more than 60 seconds at a time. Using exercise, Nita discovered an inner strength she didn’t know she possessed, and with the help of her canine companion, she found herself on the way to completing her first marathon. In her memoir, Sweeney shares how she overcame emotional and physical challenges to finish the race and come back from the brink.